Letter from Ralph Vaughan Williams to Edward Elgar
From R. Vaughan Williams,
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.
Dear Elgar
I want to tell you how my choirs of the Dorking Festival are loving preparing “Gerontius” - Greatly daring I suggested it for this year's festival - I had been longing to do it for years, but had thought it too dangerous an experiment as I could not bear to do it badly - Whether we shall do it well I do not know - But if enthusiasm and hard work can achieve anything be sure that it will not lack those.
And it will be one of the great moments in my life when I stand with trembling baton to conduct it - we have good soloists - Astra Desmond, Steuart Wilson and Harold Williams - and we shall think of you - please give us your blessing.
Of course this wants no answer.
Yours affectionately
R. Vaughan Williams
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On the performance of Gerontius at Dorking, see R.V.W.: a biography, p.197. Elgar was terminally ill at this time and died on 23 February, three days after receiving this letter.